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  3. Military Naturalization Statistics

Military Naturalization Statistics

U.S. service members, veterans, and their families may be eligible for certain immigration benefits in recognition of their important sacrifices. Specifically, veterans and current service members may be eligible to become U.S. citizens through naturalization under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These provisions reduce or eliminate certain general requirements for naturalization, including the requirements for the applicant to have resided in and been physically present in the United States for a specific period of time before naturalizing.1

Since 2002, we have naturalized more than 187,000 members of the U.S. military, both at home and abroad. Naturalization ceremonies have taken place in more than 30 countries from Albania to the United Arab Emirates.2 In the last five years (fiscal years 2020 – 2024), we have naturalized more than 52,000 service members. In FY 2024, we naturalized more than 16,290 service members, a 34% increase from the previous year. 

Approvals by Fiscal Year (2020 – 2024)

Bar graph 2020 - 4570, 2021 - 8880, 2022 - 10640, 2023 - 12140, 2024 - 16,290

Countries of Birth

Service members born in the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and Ghana — the top five countries of birth among those naturalized — comprised over 38% of the naturalizations since FY 2020. The next five countries of birth — Haiti, China, Cameroon, Vietnam, and South Korea — comprised an additional 16% of military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024. 

Top Five Countries of Birth (FY 2020 – FY 2024)

Top Five Countries of Birth : Mexico 7%, Jamaica 10.3%, Ghana 4.2%, Nigeria 6.2%, Philippines 10.7%

Age

Half of all service members were between 22 and 30 years old when they naturalized. The median age of all service members who naturalized between FY 2020 to FY 2024 was 27 years old. More than 17% were 21 and under when they naturalized. Almost 5% were older than 40 when they naturalized. 

Age at Naturalization (FY 2020 – FY 2024)

Bar Graph of Age at Naturalization 17&18: 1.2%, 19-21:16.5%, 22-25:26.5%, 26-30: 23.4%, 31-35: 18.5%, 36-40: 9.2%, 41+: 4.8%

Sex

Men comprised 73% of all service members naturalized between FY 2020 and FY 2024. The proportion of male and female service members naturalized remained fairly consistent across years with the proportion of females slightly increasing from FY 2020 to FY 2024.

Sex at Naturalization (FY 2020 – FY 2024)

Graphic showing gender by percentage, 27 for women and 73 for men

Branch of Service

Service members from the Army (including National Guard and Reserves) comprised almost two-thirds (60%) of all military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024. Service members from the Coast Guard comprised less than 1% of military naturalizations from FY 2020 to FY 2024.3

Branch of Military at Naturalization (FY 2020 – FY 2024)

Chart showing amount of naturalizations by Branch of Military

Tables

Data Table 1: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2020-2024) and Top 10 Countries
Country of BirthFY20FY21FY22FY23FY24Total
Philippines4609401,1901,4001,6505,630
Jamaica3808801,0901,2901,7805,420
Mexico3106307708001,1503,670
Nigeria3406306806909303,270
Ghana2304204304506602,190
Haiti1102604605106702,010
China3703403804504702,010
Cameroon1302803403706301,750
Vietnam902403403603701,400
South Korea2302502903102801,360
Others1,9203,9404,7205,5307,70023,810
Total4,5708,80010,69012,15016,29052,500

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2024.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 2: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2020-2024) and Age at Naturalization
Age at Naturalization

FY20

FY21

FY22

FY23

FY24

Total

17 and 18 years old

0

10

20

190

410

620

19-21 years old

390

1,050

1,650

2,190

3,360

8,640

22-25 years old

1,040

2,310

3,100

3,330

4,110

13,890

26-30 years old

1,280

2,360

2,560

2,740

3,370

12,300

31-35 years old

1,150

1,880

1,970

2,060

2,670

9,730

36-40 years old

430

770

940

1,080

1,590

4,810

41+ years old

280

430

450

570

790

2,500

Total

4,570

8,800

10,690

12,150

16,290

52,500

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2024.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 3: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year and Sex (2020-2024)
Sex

FY20

FY21

FY22

FY23

FY24

Total

Men

3,450

6,400

7,710

8,790

11,780

38,120

Women

1,110

2,360

2,940

3,300

4,420

14,140

Total

4,570

8,800

10,690

12,150

16,290

52,500

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2024.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 4: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2020-2024) and Service Branch
Service Branch

FY20

FY21

FY22

FY23

FY24

Total

Air Force

430

860

840

1,380

2,070

5,580

Army

2,980

5,480

6,720

7,160

9,180

31,530

Coast Guard

20

20

20

20

110

200

Marines

210

520

750

830

1,120

3,440

Navy

830

1,800

2,230

2,650

3,180

10,690

Unknown

100

110

130

110

610

1,060

Total

4,570

8,800

10,690

12,150

16,290

52,500

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2024.

Notes: Military branches include the Reserves and National Guard; for example, the Army includes both the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.


1 Read more information on the naturalization process and eligibility for service members, veterans, and their families on our website.

2 Executive Order 13269 (PDF), signed on July 3, 2002, designated the War on Terrorism (beginning on Sept. 11, 2001) as a period in which the armed forces of the United States were engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force for the purposes of section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). As a result, those who served honorably in the armed forces on or after Sept. 11, 2001, may be eligible for naturalization in accordance with the statutory exceptions to the naturalization requirements provided in INA 329.

3 About 2% of naturalizations did not list a service branch in our system.

Last Reviewed/Updated:
11/06/2024
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